News from Hutt City Council
Any winter blues were a distant memory for 50,000 people at today’s Petone Winter Carnival. The successful event was run for the eighth time on Petone’s Foreshore, postponed to Sunday by this weekend’s wild weather.

The Tin Man, The Scarecrow and Dorothy herself braved the Petone Polar Plunge along with more than 60 others.

The Petone Kitchen Shed was a new addition this year and popular with the crowds who enjoyed watching former MasterChef contestants Jordan and Nikki Shearer cook against James Culleton and Glynn Rudolph. About 150 people bought tickets to then test their food with the men’s Lamb Laab coming out victorious.

The Pelorus Trust Fire Show capped off a spectacular day with people crowding the foreshore and the Hutt hills to watch the fireworks. Wellington apartment owners and people in Eastbourne also enjoyed the show from afar.

Crowds flocked to the event with one Facebook fan saying, “I always enjoy the Carnival but this years was the best I’ve been to yet. And that Fire Show at the end… amazing!”

The Petone Winter Carnival will return in 2015.

Wellington.Scoop – August 2
This year’s Petone Winter Carnival is expected to attract about 50,000 people to the Petone Foreshore on Sunday, according to the Hutt City Council which organises the event, which was postponed on Saturday because of the weather.

There’ll be some traffic confusion and delays because of the carnival. The Transport Agency has closed the Petone Esplanade to westbound traffic, with detours in place.

News from Hutt City Council
The carnival kicks off at 12noon – so come for lunch then watch (or join) the hardy souls doing the Mitre 10 MEGA Petone Polar Plunge.

As well as rides and entertainers we’ve got the best market and food stalls in town and music to get you tapping your toes on The Hits Main Stage. There’s also the acoustic stage, the carnival stage and the youth stage.

A new event this year is The Kitchen Shed where four local MasterChef contestants cook off in a challenge eaten and judged by ticket holders. Tickets will be available to buy on the day.

The Rotary Club of Hutt City has organised teams to build large wooden sculptures on the beach during the Carnival – these are set on fire at 6.30pm.

The Carnival’s culmination is at 7.30pm with fireworks off Petone Wharf.

Petone Winter Carnival is free to enter, most rides are $5 for five rides and there is a heap to look at – it’s the best day out this winter.